Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's visit to violence-hit Sambhal thwarted

This is the second time in a few days when a Congress delegation was not allowed to reach Sambhal.

The Gandhi siblings took an attempt a couple of days after a Congress delegation led by Ajay Rai was stopped from entering into Sambhal, which has turned out to be a new flashpoint between the Opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Rahul, an MP from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, climbed on top of the car and said, "Being the leader of the opposition, it is my right to go there, but still I am not being allowed to go. I am ready to go there alone, but this was also not accepted."

"Our constitutional rights are not being given to us. This is the new India, in which work is being done to destroy the Constitution," he added in a protesting tone.

Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka, who has just turned an MP winning from Wayanad, said, "The police have no answer to these questions. If such situations cannot be handled in UP, then why does the BJP say with such pride that it has taken care of law and order?"

Tension prevailed in the town since last month after a local court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid.

The order was passed after a plea claiming a Harihar temple existed at the site until Babar demolished it.

The first round of the survey was conducted in the previous week. The violence broke out during the second round on Sunday. 

When the survey team reached the site, a mob started shouting slogans and soon the scenario escalated to clash and violence forcing the cops to use force to take control of the situation.

Thirty-six cops were injured after a mob pelted stones at the survey team and police personnel in the western Uttar Pradesh town.

Several vehicles were torched.

The Supreme Court last Friday paused the trial court's order permitting a survey of the mosque, stressing on the importance of maintenance of "peace and harmony".

Besides, it has asked the management committee of the Shahi Idgah Masjid to approach the high court against the trial court order.